A Member Of The Rhode Island Supreme Court

Knowing RI Law = Doing Things The RI Way

To appease the public's growing unease
about the judiciary, a fairer and "unbiased" selection system was
introduced. Unfortunately, this fell victim as well to
insider politics. When a selection committee chose Margaret
Curran to fill a seat on the Rhode Island Supreme Court, a
candidate whose qualifications came from the highest level of
service in the U.S. attorney's office and with a list of
recommendations that included some of the most respected attorneys
and officeholders, including Governor Almond, she was summarily
rejected because a majority of the Senate Judiciary Committee felt
she "did not know Rhode Island law." Instead, with evident
relief, they hurriedly confirmed Maureen McKenna Goldberg, who on
more than one occasion had demonstrated her knowledge of "Rhode
Island law." See the following examples:

Judge Goldberg expunged the records of two men convicted of
sexual molestation, one of whom was later found to be working in
the Chariho school system.

Judge Goldberg also expunged the record of the son of former
state auditor Anthony Piccirilli, allowing him to continue on the
state payroll by transferring to the attorney general's
office.

If it wasn't for Judge Goldberg, former state court
administrator Matthew Smith might have lost his pension.
Judge Goldberg dismissed felony charges against Matthew Smith
rather than let a jury decide the charges.

Note: The Rhode Island Supreme Court is quick to point
out how legally correct the above decisions were citing the "letter
of the law." However, anyone following Rhode Island
courts closely will see a "gymnastic style" bouncing from a
"spirit of the law" standard to a "letter of the law" standard
depending on which case is before them. A close observation
of Rhode Island courts will also reveal the court's tendency
of changing the issues ruled upon whenever an unpopular or "status
quo damaging" ruling is before them. For an example, see the
Edwards Complaint. Caught.net
listed the above complaints because of the inconsistency of Rhode
Island court rulings.

Black Is White Legal Reasoning

Paul Romano collected more than $384,100 in
retirement benefits unlawfully. Justice Goldberg argued that
it was only fair that Romano keep the pension money he was paid
because he got the money in good faith.

Black Is White Legal Reasoning Continues

Traffic Court Judge John
Lallo's receives fine of $28, 000 for absenting himself from
the bench to gamble at Foxwoods Casino. Justices Goldberg and Bourcier took exception to the Judicial Tenure
Commission's decision to penalize Lallo for what they called a
prejudice against gambling.

Burger King Isn't The Only Place You Can "Have It Your Way"

Stephanie Rivera in editorials in the
Providence Journal justifiably asserts that relatives of Justice
Goldberg [Lawrence and Robert Goldberg] have been aided by their
contacts throughout state government by, in part, what seems to be
a dominant influence of Justice Goldberg. Also read page by
Peter Phipps.

The Danger Of Arrogance Coupled With Conviction

Justice Goldberg said regarding the Jeffrey Scott Hornoff appeal that, "the
defense witnesses had been wholly incongruous and self-serving and
had led the jury - properly - to convict. Some time later,
the real killer confessed and Hornoff was released.

FOOD FOR THOUGHT

Many times the reason or purpose for events in our life initially escapes us,but I am certain we can find reason and/or purpose in everything that happens!

It takes a short time to learn to exercise power, but a lifetime to learn how to avoid abusing it.

We are no longer a country of laws, we are a country where laws are "creatively interpreted."